St Luke's Way (East)
St Luke's Way
The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn.
Patron: Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian.
Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13th May.
Overview
The Way starts at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, leaving the city along the Marriotts Way towards Cawston, then taking the Pilgrim Cross route to Walsingham along country lanes to the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles. From Walsingham the Way follows tracks and lanes to Dersingham and soon crosses the Sandringham estate to King's Lynn. The Way continues along the Great Ouse to Wisbech, then across fenland to Spalding, Bourne then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham, then tracks the Grantham canal near Belvoir Castle across farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham arriving finally St Barnabas' Cathedral.
Essential facts:
- Route length: 155.4 miles
- Ascent: 1,883 ft
- Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat)
- Average walk day length: 15.5 miles
- Average walk day duration: 6 hours
- First walking day: Thursday 4th September 2025
- Number of walking days: 10
- Number of rest days: 0
- End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham
- Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral.
Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025.
For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
